League Rules

Rules & Regulations

1.4 COACHES MUST SIT RULE: All coaches shall remain seated on their team bench during the contest. Coaches are permitted to stand temporarily to cheer a play or instruct players but must then return to their seat. The head coach is responsible for all conduct of the team, the bench, and the spectators. EXCEPTION: All-Net and High School Division coaches are restricted to the coaching box. Excellent sportsmanship is required.

SECTION 18 - FALL LEAGUE

The NJB Fall League will play by the National Federation High School Basketball Rule Book. NJB has adopted the following supplemental rules for Fall League competition:

18.1 LENGTH OF PLAYING PERIODS: Four (4) ten-minute periods for all divisions with a running clock.

18.1.1 Running Clock stops only for:
Time-outs: Head coach or player on court may request time-out.
 

18.2 CLOCK: If the point difference is nine (9) or less any time during the final two (2) minutes of the 4th quarter, the clock shall be regulation until the end of the period, stopping on all whistles.

18.3 OVERTIME: Overtime periods shall be two (2) minutes in duration. The first minute shall be a running clock and the last minute shall be a regulation (stop) clock. Additional overtime periods shall be one (1) minute regulation clock.

18.4 TIME-OUTS: Time-outs will be 45 seconds in duration. Each team will be allowed two (2) time-outs in each half and one (1) for each overtime period. Unused time-outs cannot be carried over to the second half or into overtime. They must be used or they will be lost.

18.5 FREE THROW BONUS: Penalty free throws shall be shot on the 10th team foul in each half. Bonus free throws are 1 and 1. There are no 2-shot double bonus situations.

18.6 DEFENSE:

18.6.1 DIVISION 3

18.6.1a DEFENSE - Teams may play zone or man defense at any time during the game. Zone defense is highly recommended.

18.6.1b "Foot in the Key" Rule- Once a team secures the rebound
and is advancing in transition, players may not play defense until they have put one foot in the key. All defensive players must keep one foot in the key area (top of the key is included) until the ball crosses the attack line for the first time of that possession.

18.6.1c Attack Line- Teams may not play defense until the ball crosses the attack line (28' hash mark). If hash marks are not available, the site director and referees will designate the attack lines.

18.6.1d Half-Court Press- Allowed during the 4th period only. Defense must allow dribbler to cross the half-court line with both feet and the ball before applying pressure. A loose ball or pass in flight must cross the half-court line before the defense may apply pressure.

18.6.1e Full-Court Press- Allowed during the last two (2) minutes of the 4th period and overtime.

18.6.1f PENALTY- Any illegal defense - one warning per half.
Technical fouls for additional occurrences in each half. NOTE: If the illegal defense is unintentional in the referee's judgment, the ball shall be awarded to the offense at the point of contact with no penalty.

18.6.1g FREE THROWS - The free throw line will be ten (10) feet from the face of the backboard. A shooter's foot may touch but not completely cross over the line. A maximum of five (5) players and the shooter may occupy the lane during free throws.

18.6.1h Each player will shoot a free throw prior to the start of the game. Each successful free throw will be recorded in the scorebook and count in the team's overall score. One referee per team will simultaneously administer the free throws at each team's respective 1st half baskets.

Both teams will shoot an equal amount of free throws. A team with fewer players than their opponents will be awarded additional free throws to balance the total team attempts. That team's coach shall select shooters who have missed their first attempt . If all players have made their free throws, the coach may select any player to shoot the extra free throws. Players who made free throws may not attempt a second shot until all teammates have made a free throw.

18.6.1i "1st Pass / Back Court Rule" - Only shots that hit the rim or backboard will require a pass to be made in the backcourt. On shots that do not hit the rim or backboard, no pass is required. Any time the first pass is made in the backcourt, it must be completed in the backcourt before the ball can be advanced to the frontcourt.
PENALTY: Violation - ball awarded to defense at half court.
EXCEPTION: During the last two (2) minutes of the game.

18.6.1j Key Violation - An offensive player may not be in the 15-foot key area for five (5) continuous seconds. PENALTY: Violation

18.6.1k Insufficient Action - The offensive team has five (5) seconds after crossing half-court to cross the attack line and start their offense. PENALTY: 1st offense = warning; 2nd = violation.

18.6.2 DIVISION 2

18.6.2a DEFENSE- In the 1st half teams must play man-to-man. Any type of half-court defense is allowed in the 2nd half.

18.6.2b Man-to-Man Defense - A defensive player must be within a six (6) foot guarding position of any player with the ball below the hash mark. When no hash marks are available, the referee shall designate an alternative. Help side defense is allowed.

a) Help side defense is defined as a defender playing at a midpoint position between his assigned player and the player with the ball. A help side defender must recover and be within a six (6) foot guarding position of his assigned player if that player receives the ball.

b) Defensive players may double-team a player with the ball but may not double-team a player without the ball. Double-team is defined as two or more players defending an opposing player.

18.6.2c Half-Court Press - No backcourt pressure allowed during the first three (3) periods. Defense must allow dribbler to cross the half-court line with both feet and the ball before applying pressure. A loose ball or pass in flight must cross the half-court line before the defense may apply pressure.

18.6.2d Full-Court Press - Any type of full-court press is allowed during the
4th period only.

18.6.2e PENALTY: Any illegal defense - one warning per half. Technical fouls for additional occurrences in each half. NOTE: If the illegal defense is unintentional in the referee's judgment, the ball shall be awarded to the offense at the point of contact with no penalty.

18.6.2f FREE THROWS - The free throw line will be twelve (12) feet from the face of the backboard. A shooter's foot may touch but not completely cross over the line. A maximum of five (5) players and the shooter may occupy the lane during free throws.

18.6.3 DIVISION 1

18.6.3a DEFENSE- In the 1st half teams must play a man-to-man. Any type of defense is allowed in the 2nd half.

18.6.3b Man-to-Man Defense - A defensive player must be within a six (6) foot guarding position of any player with the ball below the hash mark. When no hash marks are available, the referee shall designate an alternative. Help side defense is allowed.

a) Help side defense is defined as a defender playing at a midpoint position between his assigned player and the player with the ball. A help side defender must recover and be within a six (6) foot guarding position of his assigned player if that player receives the ball

b) Defensive players may double-team a player with the ball but may not double-team a player without the ball. Double-team is defined as two or more players defending an opposing player.

18.6.3c Full-Court Press - Teams may employ a full-court press at any time during the game. However, during the 1st half all defenses must be man-to-man.

18.6.3d PENALTY- Any illegal defense - one warning per half. Technical fouls for additional occurrences in each half.

18.6.3e FREE THROWS - The free throw line will be ten (10) feet from the face of the backboard. A shooter’s foot may touch but not completely cross over the line. A maximum of five (5) players and the shooter may occupy the lane during free throws.

18.7 PLAYER PARTICIPATION: Each player must play one full continuous period in the 1st half. The 3rd period will be divided into two (2) 5-minute intervals. The clock will be stopped at a non-advantage to allow coaches to put all players on the bench into the game to replace players who started the 3rd period. All available bench players (up to 5) must be substituted at this time. Substitutions may be made in the 2nd period, but only for the players who played the entire 1st period.

18.8 MERCY RULE: If a team has a 25-point lead any time during the game, the scorekeeper shall notify the referee to implement the mercy rule. It is strongly recommended that top players be removed and the substitutes play. The team with the lead cannot employ full-court or half-court pressure and must play defense with both feet inside the 3-point area at all times. The clock will run at all times, except for time-outs, until the difference is 15 points or less.